For My Abuser: An Original Poem

As you may have encountered in your own life, many of us have to date a lot of cruddy boys before we find our real man.  Today, I wanted to share a poem with you that I wrote back in 2011 about one especially cruddy boy.  I spend enough time discussing the work of other authors, I figured it was about time I shared some of my work with you.  Please let me know what you think in the comments below.

For My Abuser

By Jessamine Julian

Your words, like fists, rained upon my head

My pain, your joy - is this my death bed?

We stood so strong.  I thought "You are my all."

But now, the end, you created my fall.

Your words, like memory's picture taken

I remember them all and, if I'm not mistaken, 

You said them, you meant them, you mean them still.

My soul was shattered.  It was your intent to kill.

Why Heart Murmurs Made My Heart Smile

Title: Heart Murmurs (Society Literati #1)
Author: Brynn Chapman
Publisher: Twenty Seven Dresses
Publication Date: December 23, 2016
Genre: YA, Historical, Fantasy

I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.


Description from GoodReads
Mia Templeton is dying. Or was dying. After receiving a heart transplant, her world is forever altered. Before her eyes open, she overhears her donor was murdered. Whispers invade Mia's mind before she's even left the recovery room. She develops tastes for foods she once hated, and dreams so vivid, they feel like someone else's memories. Her personality is altered - once a quiet doormat, she's now inexplicably flippant, and confident. And her unexplained longing for the new boy at school is borderline obsessive.

Morgan Kelly is new. Adopted by his aunt, a descendant of Louisa May Alcott (Little Women), he's thrown into life at a new high school, and as a historical guide for his aunt's store - a homage to all things Alcott. Conspiracy theories abound about his mangled lower leg - but no one has been brave enough to ask. Till Mia. 

Something is awry with the Underground Railroad tunnels beneath his aunt's home. Mia and Morgan enter the world of a secret Literary Society - and are drafted to help bring a rogue Literary giant to justice, solve the mystery of her heart donor, and the real fate of Beth from Little Women.

My Thoughts

I had sworn to myself that I would not allow my TBR to grow at all.  I was not going to add one more book to it because I was already booked and was falling behind.  And then...I heard about Heart Murmurs.  One simply cannot trust leaving me and Louisa May Alcott or Jane Austen in a room alone. And both authors are present in this book!  How was I to say no?

Like many other books, there were several things I felt Chapman did really well.  There were also a few weak points in her story.  Let's start with the good, shall we?

First, I loved her characterization!  She created a wonderfully strong MC, Mia, who not only starts the book in the middle of a heart transplant, but who grows to find her own strength in her second chance at life.  Even though she had plenty to whine/complain about, I really enjoyed that she was a character who didn't just whine her way through. More often than not, she was forced to face and accept difficult realities.  She did so with grace.  She was willing to go on despite each hardship she faced and she was unafraid of being true to herself.

My favorite character, though, was definitely Morgan.  Not only was he described as a wonderfully handsome beast, he is an absolute gentleman!  In my opinion, today's men could learn a lesson or two from his "antiquated" ways!  I loved that he was willing to be in love with Mia, but unwilling to make love to her because he wanted to protect her honor.  I know that seems cliche, but I found it refreshing to see a man who thinks with his big head and not the little guy down below.

As much as I loved the way Chapman developed her characters, I thought that her focus on imagination and individuality was what truly drove this story into my heart.  As a teacher, I see a lot of students who are afraid to think outside of the box because they have no idea what could result.  Mia has no idea what to expect and everything to lose, but is forced to rely on her imagination.  Chapman provides today's youth a wonderful opportunity to view the importance of imagination and creativity.  I would love to have my students read this book just to learn that lesson!

Unfortunately, there were a few places that required some improvement thati believe it is necessary to discuss.

Of the negative aspects, the smallest was definitely the few errors that I found dispersed throughout the novel.  I know that most of these will be overlooked by the average reader, but they were present.

Additionally, I found the relationship between Morgan and Mia to speed along much too quickly.  In a matter of weeks, they went from having never met to knowing that they were meant for each other.  I cannot accept that as real.  The romance between the two was quite obvious, but it is unlikely for a romance to develop into something that deep that quickly.

Lastly, I felt that Chapman needed to add a little more excitement to this piece.  When we finally reached the climax, I felt that the rising action had happened so late in the novel that there was barely any buildup to the climax.  I would have loved to see more plot development overall.

My Rating

About the Author

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her

writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

She also writes under the pseudonym R.R. Smythe .

Check it Out! Legacy of the Minds by H. R. Moore

Legacy of the Mind
by H.R. Moore
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance

Release Date: January 2014

Summary from GoodReads:

Anita has never been ordinary, she’s stuck out like a sore thumb her entire life; not only can she see the energy of others, a rare skill, but she’s won every Body challenge she’s ever entered. So when the powerful, good looking Descendants, Marcus and Alexander, mysteriously arrive in Empire, her difference attracts and keeps their attention.

Once in Empire, the sudden death of ruling Body Descendant, Christiana, sets in motion a number of events; a quest for the treacherous Austin to find the girl Christiana had been looking for; a challenge where Anita stands out more vibrantly than ever before; a perilous dip in the world’s energy; and a dangerous belief among the people that they will never truly be free. Powerful factions soon form within the ruling elite and when a trusted friend and mentor reaches out to ask for Anita’s help, she has to make a choice; help her friend and betray the one she loves, or do nothing and watch the people starve.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Excerpt

After three, enormous courses and a significant quantity of various types of wine, Anita decided it was time to open the dancing.  In line with tradition, there would be no announcement, but Anita and Marcus would take to the floor at a time of their choosing, throwing a signal to the band and surprising the audience by launching into their dance.

Anita reached over and took Marcus’ hand under the table.  She inclined her head in the direction of the open space between the banquet tables and he smiled in agreement.  He led Anita around the top table, waving to the band as they passed.  The band immediately sprang into life, striking up a jaunty number and the room quietened in expectant anticipation.  Anita could hardly contain her excitement.

She loved to dance and leaving Marcus by the edge of the tables, she spun her way to the middle of the floor.  Marcus ran after her and caught her just as she stopped spinning, leant her backwards seductively, then restored her to an upright position in a slow, fluid, silky movement.  They smiled at each other as they came back face to face, each reminded of their dance on the cliff, before Marcus almost violently spun Anita out and back in again.  They tangoed around the floor, paying no attention to their audience, who watched open-mouthed at the display.  They had all expected a polite waltz to start proceedings, and certainly no one had expected this.

After a couple of minutes of the borderline inappropriate spectacle, complete with too much body contact, a number of improper looks, and all topped off by the suggestive backing track, the others eligible to join the first dance got up and made their way to the floor.  All expect Austin, whose face was like thunder as he watched his son’s embarrassing exhibition with the girl he was beginning to hate.  Marcus and Anita finished their opener with a flourish, Marcus spinning Anita around so they were back to back before lifting her high on his shoulders, her arms outstretched.  He spun several times before letting her slide back to the floor, having masterfully positioned them to join the set laid out by the others in preparation for the formal dancing.  He kissed her hand racily and threw her one last risqué look as they took their places.

About the Author
Harriet was born in Germany in 1987, the family returning to the UK, to Dorset shortly afterwards. She lived there until she was 5, her grandfather teaching her the basics of cheating at cards and swindling chocolate, her mother starting to instill a (some would argue) unhealthy relationship with cake, and the neighbours demonstrating that some people don't understand cherry blossom is there to be picked, mixed with mint and water and sold as perfume.



Then there was Scotland; stealthy guinea pig breeding, riding horses, advanced cards, more cake, then to Devon and school in Exeter. She loved maths in the early years, but by the time she got to A Level, Sociology was her favourite subject, opening her eyes to things she'd never before considered, namely, nobody is really right, nobody is really normal and primary socialisation has a lot to answer for.



At the age of about 12, Harriet started rowing for Exeter Rowing Club. This quickly took over her life and before too long she was clad in lycra, training 6 days a week and competing at events around the country.

After finishing her A Levels, Harriet went to university in St Andrews, studying Philosophy for two years, then switching to Management. She was particularly interested in the 'people' elements of her course and especially the areas concerning how people create and react to change. After four very civilised years by the sea, she ventured to London, to foray into the strange world of insurance (surprisingly, more interesting than you might think). She worked as a Project Manager on large change programmes before founding her own consultancy in 2015.

Harriet now lives in Hertfordshire with her husband Chris and daughter Atia. When she isn't, writing, editing, eating, running around after her toddler, or imagining how much better life would be with the addition of a springer spaniel, she occasionally finds the time to make hats.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Pinterest

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Winterskin by C. M. Estopare

Title: Winterskin (Kindred Souls #1)
Author: C. M. Estopare
Genre: Dark/Epic Fantasy


Description from Goodreads
The Path.

Perilous. Brutal. Deadly.

It is said that if a man journeys in alone, he’ll never return and there will be no corpse to bury.

Thousands of lives hang in the balance. Braving the Path is the key to saving them, but their survival is not guaranteed. For the Path is brimming with flesh ravenous monsters and the threat of a sinister presence known only as “the Lady”, an eerie entity dwelling deep within the confines of the black forest.

Escorted by a chosen few, the Chaperon is prepared to move forward to preserve the lives of a mountain town planted deep within the forest. But even in the dead of winter, the dark creatures prowling the surrounding forest remain unsettled and are bent on decimating any who encroach upon their territory.

Katell Maeva, one of those assigned to escort the Chaperon, will have to prove herself on this journey if she wants to be deemed a full-fledged shieldmaiden. But even her unique abilities may not be strong enough to withstand the brutal attacks they’ll face. Can this young woman, desperate to save her own family, complete her mission to escort the Chaperon and lead the convoy to safety?

For her, this journey is more than just a challenge; it’s the key to her future.


My Thoughts

After a week full of more insanity, it feels so good to be able to finish a book! I really missed writing reviews and am SOOO happy to be back in action.

Well, Winterskin, where do I begin? Hmmmm....

I'll start by saying that I absolutely LOVED Estopare's descriptive writing. She does not hold back any details about the pain or battles or emotions that her characters feel. There are so many descriptive words dripping from this novel that as my eyes devoured the pages I almost felt the need to wipe the eye drool away. WONDERFULLY DONE!
The main story line was also a true delight.  I love that she took a stereotypical male role and turned it into a hard core, feminine legend.  We need more authors who are willing to do so!  However, I felt that Estopare tried to cram so much into one little book that it ended up falling flat.  I spent as much of this book fascinated by the amazing details as I did confused about what was happening and why.  Finally, it all made sense about thirty pages before the end.  I am glad that I held it together through all of that confusion.

My biggest complaint, however, was that I didn't really feel like the book had "ended" after it was done.  When I finish a book,I like to feel emotionally dead.  Not exhausted or merely affected, DEAD.  I want to feel that the book has reached into my soul and spread out its roots to grow inside of and shape me.  This book, unfortunately, did not do so.  I believe that this is because Estopare really tried to cram so much in.

My Rating

Let's Chat!

Have you read Winterskin?  What did you think?  Do you like books that feature strong female roles?  Let me know in the comments below!  I would love to hear from you!

                                                                          

                                                                                    About the Author

C.M. Estopare is a full-time author, avid yoga enthusiast, and veteran of the United States military. She is the author of HEARTFELT SOUNDS, a young adult coming of age fantasy about the enthralling power of one young woman's voice.

KINDRED SOULS is a five part epic and dark fantasy series hitting Amazon and Kindle Unlimited beginning in February 2017. Look out for the first book, WINTERSKIN, debuting February 9th, 2017. 

When not writing, C.M. Estopare enjoys reading about the fantastical worlds in the minds of others. She also enjoys playing around with her puppy, Duke, and adventuring with her husband. 

Links

http://cmestopare.blogspot.com/

@CMEstopare

Trailer Reveal! As You Lay Sleeping

Review: Hansel and Gretel

Title: Hansel and Gretel
Author: Mike Klaasen
Publisher: BookBaby
Publication Date: June 8, 2016
Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling
Rating: 4/5 "I liked it!"

I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

GoodReads Description
A famine decimates a magical realm, and the family of ten-year-old Hansel and his little sister face starvation. Their parents decide that the best hope for all of them against almost certain death is to abandon the children deep in the forest, but Hansel leads Gretel home by following a trail of pebbles that glow in the moonlight. Still desperate, their parents prevent Hansel from finding more pebbles, and then they abandon the children even deeper into the forest, where they become thoroughly lost. Hansel and Gretel follow a white bird to a shack in the woods and fall captive to Petra, an evil witch, who fattens Hansel for slaughter. Hansel tricks Petra into thinking he isn't fattening, then pushes her into the oven—only to discover that they may not yet be out of danger.

My Thoughts

What a wonderful read!  I truly enjoyed making my way through these forty four pages.

I loved that Klaasen was willing to put this novella into words that modern day students would understand;.  Too often, I find that the books we are encouraged to read in school have antiquated language that students drudge through.  This novella would be a wonderful starting point for any student who is interested in fairy tales!  Additionally, Klaasen includes the original tale at the end of the piece.  This provides a wonderful opportunity for teachers to work on comparison/contrast text structures with their students.  That's right, teachers, two methods for comprehension improvement are readily available in this novella!

Another wonderful assistance to students is that this book has very few errors.  Therefore, students will be able to practice their grammar skills with the sentences in this book.  

While I don't believe that this book would be suited toward my older students, I can definitely see my seventh and eighth grade classes having a ball!  If I am able to get a few more copies, I would love to use it for creative writing pieces!

About the Author

Mike Klaassen is the author of the series "Klaassen's Classic Folktales," which so far includes two of the Brothers Grimm tales retold a novellas:
"The Frog Prince" and "Hansel and Gretel." Mike has also written "Backlash: A War of 1812 Novel," and two young-adult novels: "Cracks" and "The Brute." He has published two nonfiction books: "Fiction-Writing Modes: Eleven Essential Tools for Bringing Your Story to Life" and "Scenes and Sequels: How to Write Page-Turning Fiction." Mike publishes "For Fiction Writers," a free, monthly, online newsletter about the craft of writing fiction. For more, see www.mikeklaassen.com.

Winterskin Promo Post

What a week!  It seems like every time I catch my breath, something else happens and the stress continues. TGIF (tomorrow).

I was really really hoping to be able to share a review of this book with you today.  However, that's not going to be possible.  I still want to help this amazing author with her tour, however, so please enjoy the promo materials below.

One thing I can tell you about this book is that when I'm not reading it, I'm thinking about it.  I'm so in love!

About the Book

Title: Winterskin

Author: C.M. Estopare

Genre: Dark / Epic Fantasy

The Path.

Perilous. Brutal. Deadly.

It is said that if a man journeys in alone, he’ll never return and there will be no corpse to bury.

Thousands of lives hang in the balance. Braving the Path is the key to saving them, but their survival is not guaranteed. For the Path is brimming with flesh ravenous monsters and the threat of a sinister presence known only as “the Lady”, an eerie entity dwelling deep within the confines of the black forest.

Escorted by a chosen few, the Chaperon is prepared to move forward to preserve the lives of a mountain town planted deep within the forest. But even in the dead of winter, the dark creatures prowling the surrounding forest remain unsettled and are bent on decimating any who encroach upon their territory.

Katell Maeva, one of those assigned to escort the Chaperon, will have to prove herself on this journey if she wants to be deemed a full-fledged shieldmaiden. But even her unique abilities may not be strong enough to withstand the brutal attacks they’ll face. Can this young woman, desperate to save her own family, complete her mission to escort the Chaperon and lead the convoy to safety?

For her, this journey is more than just a challenge; it’s the key to her future.

A world frozen within the cusp of winter, teetering upon an age that promises the evolution of mortals into gods, WINTERSKIN weaves the consequences of brutal ambition into the personal tale of shieldmaiden Katell Maeva’s growth into a woman bound in a darkening world gone feral.

WINTERSKIN is book one in the exciting dark fantasy series KINDRED SOULS. A fast-paced read, filled with jaw-dropping action, and savage femme fatales, WINTERSKIN is a riveting page turner that is impossible to put down.

                                                                    Author Bio

C.M. Estopare is a full-time author, avid yoga enthusiast, and veteran of the United States military. She is the author of HEARTFELT SOUNDS, a young adult coming of age fantasy about the enthralling power of one young woman's voice.

KINDRED SOULS is a five part epic and dark fantasy series hitting Amazon and Kindle Unlimited beginning in February 2017. Look out for the first book, WINTERSKIN, debuting February 9th, 2017. 

When not writing, C.M. Estopare enjoys reading about the fantastical worlds in the minds of others. She also enjoys playing                                                           around with her puppy,Duke, and adventuring with her husband. 

Links

http://cmestopare.blogspot.com/

@CMEstopare

Review: Queen of Extinction

Title: Queen of Extinction: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling
Author: Gwynn White and Erin St. Pierre
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: January 23, 2017
Genre: Fantasy, YA




Goodreads Description
A magical princess. A kingdom in danger. A fight to the death for the throne. Princess Aurora never thought she’d have to rule Ryferia. That was her brother’s job, until his brutal murder at the hands of their uncle. She knows the law. A marriage is her only chance to take the throne. Aurora gambles for her kingdom, invoking the right for a deadly marriage trial. As the most gifted--and ruthless--princes and lords battle to the death for her hand, the forces of evil conspire to snatch Aurora’s throne. But the princess has allies, as well as a secret power long outlawed in her kingdom… Will Aurora find true love and save Ryferia or will the trial’s winner destroy them all? Queen of Extinction is a fresh take on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale. If you like magic, steampunk, and romance, then you’ll love the first book in a new trilogy by Gwynn White and Erin St. Pierre.

My Thoughts
I am absolutely in love with this book!  As soon as I finished it, I lay flat on my back and just let myself breath hard for a while because I felt like I had run out of a part of myself when I ran out of pages in this book.  It was an absolutely wonderful ride.

I honestly expected to hate Aurora.  I greatly dislike women who are unable to fend for themselves and feel the need to be dependent upon their man.  Aurora's description made me worry that would be the case.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for proving me wrong!  Aurora is absolutely delightful!  I loved that she was willing to think for herself and to constantly push herself despite her Infirmity. She is such a believable character and I think the authors did a fantastic job with their heroine.   Throughout the novel, however, Aurora is referred to as "ugly" or "homely" and I love that she is able to love herself and to be part of a romance novel without being the stereotypical beauty.  As a female in today's society and an active mentor to several teenage girls, I think it is important for oung ladies to see such women.  I don't think that there is enough literature that encourages these girls to accept themselves and would like to congratulate the authors for successfully approaching and portraying such an important theme.

My favorite character, however,was Jorah.  Here was a being who had to suck up everything that he had been going with for so long and to get over his stubborn ways.  Was it easy?  NO. Did he do it?  Mostly.  We are just going to have to wait and see what the authors bring us in book two!

My least favorite character was Aurora's uncle, Artemis.  Man, did he get under my skin!  Could he be any more rude?  Although there was plenty of negativity between Artemis and Aurora, Artemis was not the main bad guy.  I liked the true villain of the novel more than I liked this scumbag!  He is the epitome of elitism and feelings of entitlement.  He is definitely on the same level as Dolores Umbridge of the Harry Potter series!

The authors chose a wonderful way to write this piece.  They switch between Raith, Jorah, and Aurora's points of view.  This allows for complete character development of the two who are trying the hardest to win her hand-one for dark and one for light, respectively.  It was WONDERFUL to watch both sides of the spectrum develop.

As the trials in the novel developed, I thought that the authors did a terrific job of suiting the trials to the prize.  Each trial shows one aspect of who Aurora is, be it her culture or her hobbies.  This only added to the all ready wonderful characterization.

One thing that tends to push me away from novels is the editing of the book.  As I write this review, I can't think of a single typographical error in the entire book!  I can't think of the last time that happened!

I have been wracking my skull all day to think of one thing I don't like about the book.  And, by golly, I think I've done it-- its sequel, Queen of Destruction, will not be released until April 2017.

About the Authors

                                                                                                   Gwynn White

I’m a New York Times bestselling author of epic steampunk fantasy novels set on distant planets. All my stories have an adventure at the heart, mixed with a liberal sprinkling of romance and intrigue. To confuse things, I also write adventure travel books set firmly on planet Earth. Weird, I know, but it makes me tick.

I live in Western Australia with my husband, Andrew, my three daughters, a yapping Toy Pomeranian, and a fantastic farm cat called Pixel.

When I’m not writing, I’m reading, traveling, herding kids around, taking dogs for walks, and avoiding all cooking. You can contact me via my contact form or my email: gwynn@4xoverland.com

                              Erin St. Pierre
Erin St. Pierre is a twenty-year-old author and world traveler. South African born, she has lived in three different countries on three different continents. Still, that is not enough. She wants to travel the world, writing, drinking hot chocolate, and eating cheesecake. She currently lives in Western Australia (who knows how long that will last) with the best cat in the world. She started writing at around fifteen or sixteen, and Queen of Extinction, co-authored with Gwynn White, is her first published work. And it will definitely not be her last.

Promo Post: Emerge Beyond Circles by John Geers

Title: Emerge Beyond Circles

Author: John Geers

Genre: Fantasy

Thuban-Pol is the latest in a lineage of Siberian witches. Their eternal aim is to guide humanity to true love. Their guiding tenet, “For love to bloom, these three endure: sacrifice, perseverance and suffering. But the greatest of these is suffering.” Since the dawn of humanity, they have summoned countless couples, inflicting suffering with the intention to grow true love. They have never succeeded…but now they have their best opportunity in two couples from Wisconsin.

Author Bio

John Geers drew inspiration to begin his debut novel from a dream he experienced.

Hours spent in the caffeinated air of his favorite coffeehouse proved to be the perfect place to complete Emerge Beyond Circles.

John is a middle school literacy educator, where he inspires and is inspired by the writers of tomorrow. He is the founder and facilitator of his school’s Creative Writing Club. He is also a columnist for the online magazine Elephant Journal.

He loves a good story, being on the water, and witty puns. He can be found hiking the wilderness, biking big hills, sipping dark coffee, and looking for a chair in the mall. 

Links

WRITER WEBPAGE: http://bit.ly/2fSVGDL

TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2fWHdSf

GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/2gSihzI

WRITER FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2glo25s

THUBAN-POL FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2gTcBTQ

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/2hrV2NL

Giveaway

You can win a stuffed tiger animal (a character from the book), a signed paperback copy and a $10

amazon gift card during the tour.

http://www.johngeers.com/index.php/giveaways/emerge-beyond-circles-enchanted-giveaway/ 

Let's Have a Bit of Honesty....

Hey there!

Recently, I realized that I have been over blitzing my blog.  I mean, you see ads daily.  I don't need to add to your pile.

HOWEVER, I agreed to review a book today and proceeded to get STEAMROLLED by life.  I have been so flipping over-worked lately, that the idea of sleeping instead of working has had me stressed.

On the plus side, I got most of the stressful things done today and am back to my regular schedule.  Unfortunately, I just could not get this book done.  I will say that I am really excited to share my review of it with you next week!

Until then, please accept this sincere apology in lieu of my review.  There will be a blitz tomorrow because that book looks way too good not to get excited about!

Thank you so much for sticking with me as I fish around and get a better sense of the direction I want to blog in.

Weekly Update 2/4/2017

OMG!  What a week!  I am so happy this weekend is here.

Cathryn wanted to make sure I did this right...

It started out with being sick on Monday and it ended with me coating myself in coffee today.  It's so good to be home to cuddle with the fiance, Rascal, and Cathryn...as long as I can read while we cuddle.

In his wonderful attempt to improve my day, my fiance let me pick our Friday night movie.  Instead of a movie, I decided we were going to start The Magicians.  If you haven't started that yet, I suggest you get on that!  I had heard good things, but nothing compared to how truly amazing it really was.  We only watched four episodes tonight, but I love how well-developed the characters are.  The producers took so much time focusing on symbolism and keeping it topical!  LOVE IT!

I was unable to read a lot this week, but I was able to start Queen of Extinction which is an absolutely wonderful Sleeping Beauty spin off.  I am constantly surprised by unpredictable twists and turns!  I can't wait to share my thoughts on this piece with you!

Many of you may have noticed that Ms. J Mentions...has a brand new blog banner!  My friend, Lauren, was kind enough to make it for me!  She made a mini me!  She put my favorite authors on the book spines!  Be sure you check out her blog by clicking here.

This week on Ms. J Mentions...
Sunday: Book Blitz: Court of Vampires
Monday: Book Blitz: Curse of Stars
Tuesday: Cover Reveal: A Lost Legacy: Awakening
Tuesday: Review: Lemoncella Cocktail

Review: Lemoncella Cocktail

Title: Lemoncella Cocktail
Author: Rene Natan
Publication Date: July 11, 2016
Publisher: Archway Publishing
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery
Rating: 3/5 "It was OK."

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

GoodReads Description
Because of his troubled past, twenty-five-year-old Patrick Carter is determined to live a life without confrontation. A lifeguard by day and a bartender by night, he's content with his care-free daily routine, whiling away the summer on the shores of Lake Huron in southern Ontario.

But one day, as he walks along the Ausable River on his way home, a cry for help makes him plunge into the river's strong current and pull fourteen-year-old Samantha McLeod to safety. Samantha, believed to be a witness to a massive weapons exchange, is marked to death by ruthless arms dealers-along with the man who saved her.

A task force, established to safeguard the country against terrorist attacks, hunts down Oscar Calander, responsible for the weapons trade that is spreading from the Yukon to Ontario. They don't spare efforts or technological advances, even using drones in the attempt to destroy the deadly traffic.

Patrick Carter is not keen on cooperating with the task force, reluctant to move from his comfort zone to a world of suspicion and violence. He wavers-and his hesitation could be costly.

My Thoughts

Uffda.  I hate giving books less than 4/5.  It makes me feel like a bad guy.  Overall, I genuinely enjoyed the story.  However, I refuse to promise my honesty and then not give it.  So, let's start with the positives... 

First, I loved the McLeod family.  I really thought that they were mostly believable and that they worked really well as a family unit.  They felt pain and joy together, but still had their unique problems and quirky moments.  If everything would have been cheery all the time or sad all the time, this family would not have worked well.  As that was not the case, I think it worked out superbly.

I also loved being able to see from the point of view of the bad guys.  I really didn't expect the villains to be as well-devloped as the victims and was impressed by this level of characterization.

There were a few places where the timeline wasn't quite spot on.  This made it difficult to follow from time to time. Overall, I was able to make sense out of it even if it was difficult in a few places.

Where I had the most trouble, however, was that Natan didn't seem to know her own character's names.  At one point, she refers to the McLeod family as the McLean family and is talking about Patrick attending kindergarten when it is Justin who is the student.  Additionally, I found a large number of typographical errors.  I'm not sure if these were due to the formatting change from computer to kindle, or if they are genuinely in the book.

After stating so many negative things, I want to reiterate that I truly enjoyed the story.  Natan has a wonderful way of presenting her story.  I just wish that some of the finer details had been more polished before it was sent to me for review.  Those small things can make a huge difference to the readability of the novel.

                                                                                                About the Author

I always wanted to be a storyteller. At recess time I gathered some of my schoolmates and entertain them with stories—some of my own, others just summaries of books I read. My life, however, took a different turn, and I ended up following a career in information technology (as Professor Irene Gargantini). This over, I reverted to my old passion: plotting intrigues and mysteries and creating romantic or passionate encounters. I took several e-courses on fiction writing and began jotting down my tales. So far I have written nine novels, several short stories and co-authored a novella. The genre varies from romantic suspense (Mountains of Dawn, The Collage, The Loves and Tribulations of Detective Stephen Carlton, The Woman in Black, The Red Manor) to thriller (The Jungfrau Watch, The Blackpox Threat, The Bricklayer, Fleeting Visions).

Cover Reveal: A Lost Legacy: Awakening

A Lost Legacy: Awakening (Lost Legacies 1) 

By C.E Dimond

258 Pages | Write Addictions Publishing

Finn Adams thought she knew what her life had in store for her; a mundane existence of day to day life. The arrival of a stranger in town turns her world upside down. When her mother goes missing, Finn soon discovers that she is a witch and she is being hunted for her power. Ripped from the only life she’s ever known, Finn is transported across the country to Broadhaven, Maine to discover the secrets she never knew about herself, her heritage, and the tremendous power that's been kept from her for so long. Her loyalties are tested when she learns of her true parentage and discovers she is part of a prophecy, destined to awaken an ancient power that has been lost for centuries. As she struggles to learn from her mother’s past, she is faced with the ultimate struggle of good and evil, family or friends, she must learn who she can trust and find the power within herself to stop the prophecy from coming true.

A Lost Legacy: Wandering (Lost Legacies Prequel)

By C.E Dimond

110 Pages | Write Addictions Publishing

Seventeen-year-old Warlock Eamon O'Neill was born and raised in the Broadhaven Coven. Life at Broadhaven meant two things; One, he was inherently magic and two, he had a role to play. What his role was, never seemed to be clear. Descended from Celtic royalty, the expectations on young coven members are high. Coven life is a series of ancient rules, traditions, and secrets. Eamon has always trained to be the perfect Warlock and the perfect son but struggles living in his father's shadow. When a threat from the past resurfaces, the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself. One of his own will be chosen to track down the last living Witch in their Coven, and he is determined to be the man for the job. Eamon will need to place his own issues aside and focus his most powerful magic to complete the trials. He must prove he is the only one powerful enough to protect their only weapon.

About The Author

C.E Dimond is an Irish-Canadian author. She has always had a passion for literature and from a young age indulged her mind in the fantasy fiction world. As a child, her bedtime stories consisted greatly of Irish folklore and songs that inspired a true love of her heritage. She has a love of World Religions, psychology, languages and history and has put all of these inspirations to work in her writing. She is an alumna of St. Mary’s Academy and studied Theatre and Film at the University of Winnipeg. Currently, she lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

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